Ayefele, BBO Keep Mum as Beautiful Nubia Alleges Copyright Infringement

By: Israel Adeleke

OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports that popular Nigerian gospel artistes Yinka Ayefele and BBO have yet to publicly respond to allegations of copyright infringement levelled against them by veteran singer-songwriter Beautiful Nubia.

OTN News further reports that Beautiful Nubia, renowned for his socially conscious lyrics and advocacy for cultural preservation, raised the allegation in a post shared on his Instagram page on Thursday. 

In the post, he accused the two gospel musicians of copying the melody of one of his original songs without acknowledgment or credit.

Questioning what he described as a troubling pattern within Nigeria’s gospel music space, Beautiful Nubia expresses concern over what he sees as repeated appropriation of creative works by fellow artistes.

“There was Yinka Ayefele with My Faith in God (Igbagbo Ireti) in 2012 and now someone called BBO with Amin this year. Both stole their melodies from our original song Seven Lifes. When will Nigerians, especially the so-called gospel musicians, learn to respect copyright?” he writes.

According to him, Ayefele’s 2012 gospel hit My Faith in God (Igbagbo Ireti) and BBO’s 2026 single Amin bear striking melodic similarities to his earlier composition, Seven Lifes. 

He maintained that the resemblance goes beyond coincidence and amounts to intellectual property theft.

As of the time of filing this report, neither Ayefele nor BBO has issued a public statement addressing the allegation or responding to the claims made against them.

Beautiful Nubia has built a reputation over the years as a distinctive voice in Nigerian music, blending folk rhythms with spiritual and socially reflective themes. 

He has consistently championed originality, artistic integrity, and respect for intellectual property rights within the country’s creative industry.

OTN News observes that copyright infringement remains a recurring challenge in the Nigerian music scene, with several high-profile disputes in the past involving claims of melody replication, unauthorised sampling, and song ownership. 

Legal practitioners have repeatedly advised artistes to formally register their works and pursue legal remedies where infringement is suspected.

The latest allegation is expected to reignite conversations around originality, ethical creativity, and the enforcement of copyright laws in Nigeria’s evolving music industry.